Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy - It’s more than the goal that Keane was able to provide late in Vancouver. Along with Stefan Ishizaki, the Ireland international is carrying the LA attack right now, scoring on a near-per-gmae basis while operating as a focal point that drifts around the attacking third. With the help of Rob Friend, he was able to provide what looked like a late winner, and while his team eventually gave that goal back, the draw doesn’t detract from another strong performance.

Darren Mattocks, Vancouver Whitecaps - A one goal, one assist line is deceiving considering the role Jaime Penedo and the Galaxy defense played on Mattocks’ score, but in a season where the young Jamaican attacker has often seen his effort often go unrewarded, it was a refreshing change to see the plus side of good fortune – a mistake that his speed and determination caused. Drawing the attention of LA’s defense late, Mattocks set up Kekuta Manneh’s equalizer, allowing him to start accumulating numbers commensurate with his performance.

Lloyd Sam, New York Red Bulls – Because New York played on Wednesday and had the weekend off, another strong performance from Sam was overlooked, but with a goal in a second straight game, the Red Bulls’ midfielder is weaving a tale similar to Mattocks’. Though the first four, five games of the season, the performance was there but the numbers weren’t. Now Sam is getting onto the scoresheet and, as a result, our teams of the week.

Stefan Ishizaki, LA Galaxy – The Swedish midfielder has been one of the Galaxy’s best players since being moved to the tip of Bruce Arena’s midfield diamond. On Saturday in Vancouver, his (along with a couple others’) strong performance allowed the Galaxy to take an early, unexpected, and consistent control of the game. His goal gave LA its first lead of the day.

Juninho, LA Galaxy - Another key part of LA’s strong performance at BC Place, Juninho helped produce one of Pablo Morales’s least-influential performances of the season. The Brazilian led his team in passes, pass percentage, tackles and interceptions.

Ned Grabavoy, Real Salt Lake - Grabavoy gave provided his typical, strong showing throughout the first 78 minutes against Portland, but his effort on the day’s game-winning goal distinguished him from the week’s other candidates for this Best XI. Taking advantage of the path Portland paved for him, Grabavoy beat Donovan Ricketts late to give RSL a 1-0 win.

Roy Miller, New York Red Bulls - Miller has become a bit of a meme around New York, with people going the extra mile to identify why he shouldn’t be playing. Last Wednesday, however, he reminded Red Bulls fans why Mike Petke continues to pick him. A constant presence down Philadelphia’s right, Miller assisted on the game’s first goal.

Aurélien Collin, Sporting Kansas City – Part of me wants to greatly diminish performances against a team like Montréal (they’re bad right now), but Collin had a late goal, a goal line clearance, and a nice dummy/near-post run on Sporting’s third score. Combined with his normal “win everything that comes near” production, Collin did enough to offset any strength of schedule concerns.

Matt Hedges, FC Dallas – Hedges is starting to garner attention as a potential U.S. national teamer, but he’s been mistake-prone, something that’s kept him off these lists. On Saturday, however, his goal and assist helped FC Dallas convert the two set pieces that took three points from Toronto. More importantly, going forward, there was no “I’ve followed Clint Dempsey too far,” “maybe I should follow Erick Torres to the near post” moment. If Hedges can start producing consistent 90-minute shifts, he’s an all-star-caliber talent.

Steve Beitashour, Vancouver Whitecaps – Those who didn’t watch the whole game in Vancouver will notice Beitashour’s diagonal for Mattocks ahead of Kekuta Manneh’s late equalizer, but the former Earthquakes fullback provided those types of contributions all day, giving one of his best performances since moving north this offseason.

Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake - We sang Rimando’s praises in our Player of the Week post, with the RSL number one claiming his first honor of the season (from us). Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if people remember these performances when it’s time to vote for Goalkeeper of the Year. The 34-year-old has never won the honor, a slight people are beginning to talk about. Too bad they didn’t talk about it last year, when Rimando lost out on the 2013 honor to Donovan Ricketts.